Method of and apparatus for cutting a continuous ribbon of glass into sections



April 3, 1962 E. BRICHARD ETAL 3,027,546 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A CONTINUOUS RIBBON OF GLASS INTO SECTIONS Filed Nov. 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 III-i- Aprll 3, 1962 E. BRICHARD ETAL 7,

7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A CONTINUOUS RIBBON OF GLASS INTO SECTIONS Filed Nov. 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l T 17 (55) I W I W I! 41 21, 42 42b Apnl 3, 1962 E. BRIHARD ETAL 3,027,646

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A CONTINUOUS RIBBON OF GLASS INTO SECTIONS Filed Nov. 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet E5 II 8N 75 74 70 22" 12:9 k] M 1 42a 42 125" I 5 1 1/6 124" Egg l 70' 109 I 11 3 75' i I 4/4 75 41,; V25? 1- i 5 I r I x;

P E i 109 108 I Unite 3,lll?,f:d6 ME'RHOB 3F AND RAZTUS FOR QUTTENG A EUNTHNUQUS RllhnGN (DE GLASS INTO Edgard Brichard, Jumet, and Jean Marchand, Charleroi, iteigiurn, assignors to dos Verreries Mecaniaues Heiges, Societe Anonyme, Qharleroi, ilelgium, a Belgian company Filed Nov, 21, 15 5s, Ser. No. 775,439 Claims priority, application Belgium Nov. 26, 1957 45 (Iinirns. Cl. Bil-32;

The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for the rapid, accurate and, if desired, automatically adjustable cutting of a continuous ribbon of glass, leaving a drawing machine, into sheets of predetermined height and length.

In the various usual processes for the production of flat glass, the glass is obtained in the form of a continuous ribbon leaving the machine at a predetermined speed. This ribbon is cut into sections, which are in turn cut to smaller dimensions in a subsequent stage. Since this subsequent cutting must be eifected with minimum waste. it is necessary to vary the length of the sections in accordance with the dimensions specified in the orders to be carried out. Therefore, the length of the sections must be periodically varied. The changes in adjustment will be more or less frequent depending upon circumstances. They must always be very rapidly effected and must not take longer than the time required for draving a length of ribbon equal to the length of the section to be obtained.

The cutting of the ribbon into sections is generally effected by scoring cutting lines, either manually or mechanically, at intervals equal to the desired length of the sections and cracking off the ribbon along the cutting lines as it is delivered from the machine.

The mechanical scoring is generally effected in one of two ways:

(a) Either with the aid of movable devices fast with a gauge, the abutment of which is disposed in the path of the ribbon, which devices score a line perpendicular to the drawing direction. The cutting tool is mounted on a carriage travelling on a rail parallel to the surface of the ribbon and perpendicular to the drawing direction. The leading edge of the ribbon, hereinafter called the edge, drives the entire apparatus in its translational movement on encountering the abutment of the gauge.

(b) Or with the aid of fixed devices, that is to say, devices comprising a fixed rail disposed obliquely to the drawing direction, on which the tool carriage travels, the inclination of the rail being adjusted as a function of the drawing speed and of the speed of the carriage.

In both cases, the tool is set in operation, for example, by the closing of an electric contact, which is in turn actuated in dependence upon the movement of the glass sheet and so arranged that the section obtained has the required length. The actuation of the said contact takes place, in the first case, when the edge of the glass ribbon has started to drive the cutting apparatus.

It is desirable to be able to adjust the position of the electric contact in question accurately within a very short time. When it is desired to adjust the position of the contact for a new dimension, it is necessary to wait until the last cutting line for the previous dimension has been scored. On the other hand, the new adjustment must be ready for the first section which is already issuing from the machine at the instant when the adjustment is effected. The available time is therefore at most equal to the time necessary for drawing a length of ribbon corresponding to the length of the section to be obtained.

Finally, the variety of the dimensions is such that numerous adjustments must sometimes be made in the course of one days work.

The object of the present invention can be briefly summarized as follows:

It is to provide a method and an apparatus by which the adjustment in question is effected from a distance in a rapid, accurate and advantageously automatic manner, by providing in the path of the edge of the glass ribbon at least one specially designed gauge abutment retractably mounted on a movable support, and by displacing the said support and then holding it fast, from a distance, so that the distance between the abutment of the gauge and the position of the cutting line is equal to the dimension to be obtained. During this rapid and accurate displacement and holding fast of the said support from a distance, which is effected by means of a control system provided for the purpose, the displacements of the abutment or abutments of the gauge are measured by means of pointers and graduated scales combined with appropriate movable and fixed parts of the assembly, and they are stopped exactly in the position corresponding to the dimension to be obtained. When the edge of the glass ribbon comes into contact with the abutment of the gauge thus adjusted, an appropriate device such as, for example, an electric contact combined with the abutment or abutments of the gauge, which has previously been placed in circuit, from a distance, is closed by the thrust of the edge and produces the starting of the carriage on which the cutting tool is mounted, the abutment of the gauge thereafter being retracted so that it finally automatically takes up its operating position, after removal of the cracked-oif'section.

The accompanying drawings illustrate diagrammatically by way of example a number of constructional forms of a gauge according to the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a gauge applied to a Vertical drawing machine and combined with a fixed cutting apparatus,

FiGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view according to FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view according to FIG- URE 1,

FIGURES 4 and S are an end view and a side view of a detail, respectively,

FiGURES 6 and 7 are an end view, partly in section, and a side view of the abutment of the gauge, respectively,

FIGURE 8 is an end view of one part of the abutment of the gauge, drawn to a larger scale,

FIGURE 9 is a diagram of the motor and reduction gear set employed for the displacement of the gauge, and also of the device for the operation of the said set,

FIGURE 10 shows diagrammatically the electric connections between the various abutments of the gauge and the motor controlling the cutting apparatus,

FIGURE ll is a diagrammatic side elevation of a gauge applied to a vertical drawing machine and combined with a movable cutting apparatus driven by the glass sheet,

FIGURE 12 illustrates the diagrammatically wiring details relating to the subject of FIGURE 11, and

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a gauge applied to a horizontal drawing machine.

Fixedly mounted at the top of the frame of a vertical drawing machine (see FIGURES 1 and 2) within which a continuous glass ribbon 2 to be cut into sections rises, is a support 3, to which is attached the base 4 of the gauge according to the invention. The said base may contain the motor and reduction gear set 54 to 61 (see FIGURES 9 and 10), which actuates the gauge and which will hereinafter be described. Fixedly mounted on the base 4 is a vertical column 5 consisting, for example, of a hollow section iron formed with a r, if:

longitudinal slot 6, in which one end It, 14' (see FIG- URE 3) of a. movable support 7 is so retained as to be able to slide therein without pivoting.

The movable support 7 is formed with a screwthreaded aperture 15, in which there is engaged a screw 8 fast with an output shaft of the motor and reduction gear set 54 to 61 (FIGURES 9 and 10), as also a recess 16 supporting the lower end of a gauge rod 9 consisting of, for example, a tube.

The upper end of the screw 8 is mounted in a bearing 10 fixed on the column 5, while the parallelism of the rod 9 in relation to the column 5 is ensured by at least one sleeve 11 fixed to the rod 9 at the desired point, for example at its upper end, and connected by an arm 12 to a second sleeve 13 adapted to slide with gentle friction on the column 5.

Thus, when the motor and reduction gear set 54-61 contained in the base 4 is started, the screw 8 turns and causes the support 7, 14, 14 to move along the column 5 while driving the gauge rod 9.

A gauge abutment 17a is fixed to the said rod by means of a support 18, which will hereinafter be described. The abutment 17a can be assembled with the support 18 either by welding or by other appropriate means. It has been observed that it is desirable to dispose between the abutment 17a and the support 18 an intermediate device for effecting from a distance an adjustment of the level at which the abutment of the gauge is fixed to the support 18, that is to say, an adjustment of the exact position of the abutment 17:: on the rod 9 in relation to a fixed graduated scale, on which the length to be imparted to the section to be cut from the glass ribbon can be read.

In order that the screw 8 may not have to be excessively lengthened, there may be mounted on the rod 9 a plurality of abutments 17a, 17b, etc. at intervals of, for example, one metre. Each has its support 18 fixed to the rod 9, so that it is" possible to obtain the required dimension simply by adjusting the position of the assembly 7, 5 17a, 17b etc. 18 on the column 5 and the screw 8 in such manner that this position corresponds to the fraction of a metre of the said dimension, while only that one of the gauge abutments 17a, 17/), etc. is left in the operative position which corresponds to the whole number of metres of the dimension in question.

For this purpose, the support 7 (see FIGURE 2) is provided with a pointer 19, which moves past a graduated scale 29 fast with the column 5 or with the base 4. graduations commence from the bottom of the scale 2% at O, and this scale is therefore so mounted that when the pointer 19 is opposite the the lower edge of the lower gauge abutment 17a is level with the cutting tool.

The adjustment to the exact dimension is etfected by means of a disc 21 fixed on the leading screw 8 and divided into a number of graduations which travel past a pointer 22 fast with the base 4 or with the column 5.

The graduation will be, for example, as follows:

The scale 2G being graduated in centimetres, the screw 8 being threaded with a pitch of one turn per centimetre and the disc 21 being divided into 100 equal divisions, an exact dimension will be rapidly attained by bringing the pointer 19, by rapid rotation of the screw 8, opposite the required number of centimetres and then completing the adjustment by a slow rotation of the screw 8 through a fraction of a turn, so that the pointer 22 is exactly opposite the graduation 21 representing the millimetres and the tenths of millimetres.

The support 18 by means of which the abutment 17 of the gauge is fixed to the rod 9 comprises a tubular portion 18 (see FIGURES 4 and formed with a longitudinal slot 18" and provided with two lugs 24, 24" formed with holes 23, 23", in which is fitted a locking bolt 23', permitting of disposing and fixing the support 18 in any position on the rod 9.

The support 18 also comprises two tlanges 25', 25" formed with coaxial screwthreaded holes 26, 25 into which is screwed a screwthreaded rod 27 (see FIG- URES 6 and 7) on which is mounted the gauge proper, viz; pivotally mounted on the unthreaded upper and lower ends of the threaded rod 2'7 are, respectively, the horizontal arm 23 of a righ*-angled member 28 assembled with the aid of pins 29 with a plate 3%, and the horizontal arm 36 forming part of the plate 39. The two arms 28 and 36 thus have between them the screwthreaded rod 27 and the two flanges 25', 25" of the support 18, which are engaged with the screw 27. An angle plate 33 is pivotally connected at 52 to the plate 30 and constitutes the abutment 17 of t.e gauge in the case considered.

The screwthreaded rod 2-7 is coupled by an universal joint 37 to an operating rod 37' extended to the working platform. By turning the rod 37, it is possible to adjust the vertical position of the screw 27 and thus of the plate 30 and of the abutment 17 or". the gauge in relation to the support 13 and to the rod 9 when, for any reason, the position of the abutment 17 of the gauge does not correspond exactly to the position of the pointers 19 and 22. opposite their graduated scales 2G and 21.

Also fixed to the plate 36' is a bracket 33 having a screwthreaded hole 38 in which there is fitted an justment screw 39 constituting an abutment for the lower arm 49 of the angle plate 33, whereby it is possible to adjust the horizontal position of the latter or its perpendicular position in relation to the glass sheet 2.

The angle plate 33 supports two electric switches 41, 42 (FIGURE 7), of which the respective push rods 43, 44 extend downwardly and co-operate with a movable butter 45 suspended from the lower arm 4% of the an le plate 33 by means of two rods 47, 62 which are adapted to slide readily in apertures 48, 49 formed in the arm 4% and in which retaining pins 5 )-51 are fitted.

The butler is provided on vits lower face with a strip 46 or other member adapted to come into contact with glass without damaging it.

It is advanta eous to combine one end of the angle plate 33 of each gauge abutment 17a, 17b, etc. with a permanent: magnet 53 fast with the plate 3%) and exerting a pull on (3 lower arm it of the angle plate 33, whereby the stability of the latter is increased at the instant when the edge of the glass ribbon comes into contact with the strip of the butter 45. n this way, the abutmerit 33-l7 ot the gauge is retracted only when the edge or" the glass ribbon exerts a sufilcient pressure to overcome the action of the magnet 53. it is thus ensured that the elec ric switches .1, 42 are actuated before the reciting of the abutment of the gauge. in addition, when the l; r returns to the horizontal position, the magnet 53 at acts the lower arm 46 and maintains it in position, thus preventing the abutment 33-17 of the gauge from rebounding from the end of adjustment screw 39.

The motor and reduction gear set enclosed in the base 4 and serving to actuate the screw 8 comprises, for example (see FlGURE 9), a reversible electric motor 54 having two speeds and controlled with the aid of a changeover switch 55. This switch 55 has, for example, three push-buttons, one 55a for stopping, one 55b for operation in one direction and one 55c for operation in the other direction. A hand lever 59 is also provided on the switch for engaging the high speed or low speed, and a speed reducing mechanism 6%) is coupled to the motor 54 by the shaft 54a, the latter being provided with a crank 61 for hand actuation.

The respective switches 41a, 42a; 41b, 42b; 41c, 420, etc. (see FIGURE 10) of each of the abutments 17a, 17b, 17c etc. and of the abutment 33 of the gauge are connected in parallel by the conductors 17a, 17a", 17b, 17b", 17c, as also through a change-over switch 56 and a relay 57, to the motor 58 actuating a cutting device of known type comprising an oblique rail 63 of adjustable inclination, only the latter being shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 for the sake of simplicity.

The use of the automatic gauge hereinbefore described and its operation are as follows:

For adjusting the position of the gauge so that this position corresponds exactly to the dimension of the sheets to be cut from the continuous glass ribbon, or for changing this dimension, the change-over switch 55-59 (FIGURE 9) is first set to high speed for operation of the motor 54 in the direction corresponding to the dimension of the sheet to be approached. The displacement of the support 7 and of the members dependent thereon is followed by the movement of the pointer 19 past the scale 21). When the required dimension in centimetres is approximately reached, the motor 54 is set to low speed and the movement is followed on the graduated drum 21 turning opposite the pointer 22. The motor 54 is stopped at the requisite position. The setting to the absolutely accurate dimension can be completed, if desired, by turning the crank 61 by hand.

It is then necessary to choose the appropriate abutment of the gauge.

In the case of a dimension below 1 metre, this will be the first abutment 17a.

In the case of a dimension between 1 and 2 metres, it will be the second abutment 17b, and so on.

The choice is effected by placing the change-over switch 56 (FIGURE 10) in the position corresponding to the abutment to be employed.

The other abutments of the gauge can remain in position, because when the edge of the sheet 2 comes into contact therewith it will rock them without their exerting any action on the cutting device, since the switches 41-42 have been placed out of circuit. Only the selected abutment, connected to the relay 57 of the motor 58 of the cutting device, will control the latter when it comes into contact with the edge of the glass ribbon.

The position of the gauge having thus been chosen and adjusted with precision, the continuous glass ribbon 2 issuing from the drawing machine comes into contact at its upper edge with the strip 46 (FIGURES 6 and 7) of the chosen abutment and lifts this strip and at the same time its support 45, which in turn actuates the corresponding switches 41-42. The latter close the electric circuit 5657-53 and start the cutting device, which scores on the glass ribbon 2 the cutting line along which the glass sheet will be detached from the ribbon.

As has been indicated, the cutting device in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, is composed of a fixed guide rail 63 which is supported at its ends by adjustable means enabling the longitudinal inclination of the rail to be adjusted to the drawing speed of the glass and the speed on such rail of the carriage which carries the tool for cutting the glass in a known manner and exemplified by the carriage 104 and the tool 130 shown in FIG. 11 of the drawing.

As the ribbon 2 continues to rise and the rods 4762 reach the end of their travel, the abutment 1733-40 commences to rock about its pivot 52 and progressively rises under the thrust of the glass ribbon.

When the cutting line is complete, the sheet is detached from the glass ribbon by cracking it off along such line of cut and the gauge 17-33-48 automatically falls back under its own weight into the initial horizontal position, its lower arm 41 stopping against the abutment screw 39. In this position, the buffer 4546 has reoccupied its lower position, thus ensuring complete automatic opening of the switches 4142 which it controls.

It may happen that when the first sheet is detached from the glass ribbon, the dimension of this sheet is slightly different from that required. In this case, it is sufficient to turn the rod 37 (FIGURES 6 and 7) so as to adjust exactly the position of the abutment of the gauge on its support 27, 18, 9 and to attain the absolutely accurate dimension.

It will be seen from the foregoing that any adjustment or change in dimension requires only actuation of the changeover switch 55 of the motor 5'4 of the gauge, and in exceptional cases a last adjustment of the position of the screw 27 by the transition system 37, 37 and finally in some cases an operation of the reversing switch S6 for changing from one gauge to another.

FIGURE 11 illustrates an example of a combination of a vertical gauge according to the present invention with a movable cutting device according to Belgian Patent No. 497,927 in the name of Union des Verreries Mecaniques Belges, S.A.

It will briefly be recalled that this cutting apparatus comprises a tool carriage 104, 130 mounted on rollers 1116 adapted to move on a horizontal rail 105 parallel to the glass ribbon 2. The rail 105 is fixed at its ends to plates 107 connected at their upper ends by a bar 111 so as to form a frame. The latter is provided with rollers 1115, running on two vertical guide: rails 109 fixed to the base 1. The movable frame 1G5, 107, 111, which normally rests on the base 1, is suspended by two inextensible cables (or chains 115) which are attached at one end to the bar 111 and at the other end to counterweights 114, and extend over the two pulleys 116 keyed on a rigid shaft 123 mounted on two fixed bearings, which are carried, for example, on two columns 1139' fixed to the rails 109.

In addition, according to Belgian Patent No. 497,927 the movable frame 105, 167, 111 supports a rod guided by stationary rollers and supporting, through a sleeve 124, an abutment 113 movable on a pin 125 and co-operating with the edge of the glass ribbon, the sleeve 124 being provided in addition with an arm 127 supporting a pawl 1261l28 co-operating (at one end) with the abutment 113, and (at the other end) with a fixed adjustable abutment 129.

According to the present invention, the base 4 supporting the system comprising the column 5, the screw 8 with its control mechanism 54-, 55, 59, 6t), 61, the movable support 7 and the rod 9, is fixed to the movable frame 105, 107, 111 and is consequently displaceable and guided therewith on the rails 1119, while being balanced with the said frame by the counterweights 114. In addition, in this embodiment of the invention, a number of sleeves 124-, 124", etc. respectively support on a pin 125, 125", etc. a rocking gauge abutment 113, 113" etc. and a fixed arm 127, 127", etc. The fixed arms support respectively a pawl 126, 126, etc. and a solenoid 70", etc. of which the armature 71, 71", etc. pivotally connected to the pawl 126, 126", etc. at 72', 72" etc. supports at one end a roller 128', 128", etc. and at the other end a retaining head 73, 73", etc. co-operating with a compressed spring 74', 74", etc. disposed between the solenoid and the armature head 73.

Each of the abutments 113, 113", etc. of the gauge supports in addition the contacts 41a, 41!) etc. and 42a, 4212, etc. respectively, controlling the motor 90 of the cutting apparatus and a third contact 75, 75", etc. controlling the solenoid 70, 70", etc. as illustrated in the diagram of FIGURE 12.

The rollers 128, 128", etc. co-operate respectively with counter-abutments 129', 129", etc. adjustably mounted on a rod 75 vertically displaceable in an arm 77 fixed to the sleeve 13, and in an arm 78 adjustably secured to a column 79 fixed, for example, by means of a base plate 80 to the support 3 fast with the base 1. The upper end of the colmn 79 is retained with gentle friction in the end 81 of the arm 77, while the lower end of the rod 76 is fast with a screw 82.

The rod 76 and consequently the screw 82 are prevented from turning by a key 83 fast with the rod 76 and engaging with gentle friction in the arm 78.

The screw 82 engages in a sleeve-shaped nut 84 so spar/nae mounted as to be able to turn but incapable of moving axially between the base plate 80 and an arm 85 adjustably secured to the column 79.

Mounted on the sleeve-shaped nut 84 in such manner as to be displaceable in the axial direction but fast with the sleeve in the angular direction by reason of the presence of a key 86 is a toothed wheel 87 rotatably mounted in a casing 88 fast with the base 4 and rotated by a pinion 89 which is in turn driven by the driving device disposed in the base 4 and actuating the screw 8.

The length of the sleeve-shaped nut 84 is slightly greater than the length of the vertical travel of the assembly consisting of the cutting device and the gauge.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that during the cutting operation, the system 87, 88, 89, 4 is capable of rising and descending with the gauge and with the cutting device along the guide rails 109, while being balanced by the counterweights 114 and sliding along the sleeve-shaped nut 84 comprising the key 86 without changing the position of the system 82, 7 6, 129. In addition, the speed ratio between 89 and 37 and the ratio of the screw pitches between 8 and 7, on the one hand, and 84 and 82, on the other hand, are so chosen that when the gauge is adjusted (with the object of changing from one dimension to the other), the rod 9 with the system of abutments 113, etc. of the gauge, rises and descends to the same extent as the system 82, 76, 129, 129", etc. so that the adjustable vertical distance between the counter abutments 129 and the control rollers 123 of the pawls 126 on the corresponding abutments 123 of the gauge remain constant, but that during the raising of the cutting device and of the gauge by means of the glass ribbon 2, the rod 76 with the abutments 129, the screw 82 and the nut 84 remain stationary so as to produce the operation of the chosen pawl 126, 128 at the instant when it encounters the corresponding counter-abutment 129.

The details of the operation of the movable cutting device in itself, as described in the foregoing, have been given in Belgian Patent No. 497,927 and it is therefore sufficient to explain in the present description the adjustment and operation of the combined device according to FIGURE 11.

The abutments 113, 113", etc. of the gauge are fixed on the rod 9 at regular distances, for example 1 metre apart, as also are the counter-abutments 129', 129" etc. on the rod 76, in such a Way that when the movable cutting device and the gauge dependent thereon are in the inoperative position, the rollers 128 of the pawls 126 are separated from the corresponding counter-abutments 129 on the rod 76 by a distance corresponding to the length of the vertical travel performed by the movable system of the cutting device and of the gauge with the continuous glass sheet 2 while the tool carriage 1G4, 130 is carrying out a transverse cutting stroke.

For adjusting the position of the abutments 113', 113", etc. in such manner that it corresponds exactly to the length of the sections to be cut from the continuous glass sheet 2, it is sufiicient to proceed as follows: if the length of the sections to be obtained, measured in metres, corresponds, for example, to a whole number plus a fraction, the height of the position of the assembly 7-9, 11370, 126-128 is first adjusted in relation to the column 5 with the aid of the control system 4, 8, 54, 55, 59, 60-, 61 and of the graduated scales 20 and 21, so that this position corresponds exactly to the said fraction of a metre. It is to be noted that this precise adjustment is accompanied by a corresponding precise automatic adjustment of the position of the rod 76 on which the counter-abutments 129 are mounted. There is then brought into the active position with the aid of the device illustrated in FIGURE 12 and hereinafter described, only that one of the abutments 113 which corresponds to the whole number of metres of the dimension to be obtained and which must be driven with the entire gauge and the cutting device by the edge of the glass ribbon 2 and must initiate the cutting movement of the device 104, 395, 1417, 111, 133. With regard to the other abutments 113 of the gauge (which are closer to the cutting device), they are at the same time rendered inactive with the aid of the device according to FIGURE 12. This device consists of an electromechanical remote control device corresponding to that according to FIGURE 10, but comprising in addition, on each abutment 113, a third contact 75, 75', etc.

Assuming that the dimension to be, obtained corresponds to the abutment 113 of the gauge, the circuit of the said abutment 113" is closed by means of the changeover switch 56, while the circuit of the abutment 113' remains open. When the edge of the glass ribbon 2 comes into contact with the abutment 113 the latter is pivoted about the pin 12S and thus retracted, since it is in the so-cal-led inoperative position, that is to say, it is not engaged by its pawl 126. However, when the edge of the glass ribbon 2- comes into contact with the abutment 11.3", which has been placed in circuit by the switch 56, the upward thrust of the said edge first produces the closing, through the contact 75" (mounted slightly in front of the contacts 42a, 42b), of the circuit of the solenoid and consequently the engagement of the pawl 126" with the abutment 113". This is followed by the closing, by the contacts 42a, 42b of the circuit of the clay 57 and consequently that of the motor 90 of the cutting device (if desired with some delay of the starting of the latter by known means not shown), as also the raising of the cutting device and of the Whole gauge until the roller 128" comes into contact with the counterabu.tment 1 .29 and causes the pawl 126" to become disengaged from the abutment 113" of the gauge and conse quently causes the retraction of the latter by its rocking on the pin 125", as also the descent of the cutting device and of the gauge into their initial positions. During the cracking-off and the removal of the section of the glass ribbon thus cut, the abutments 113 and 113" return into their horizontal position, in which all the contacts 41, 42 and open automatically, so that all the pawls 126 return to their disengaged position under the influence of the springs 74. The new edge of the continuously rising glass ribbon 2 in turn comes into contact successively with the abutmen-ts 113, 113", etc. of the gauge, and the same cycle of operations recom mences.

In FIGURE 13, which illustrates a gauge for horizontal drawing apparatus, there will be seen the elements 5, 7, 8, 9, 19, 2t), 21, 22, 54, 6t), 61, 113, 124, 125. The glass sheet 2- being drawn in the horizontal direction, all the elements just enumerated are adapted to this direction. It will be observed that the sheet 2 rests on the roller track 150, that the rod 9 rests on guide rollers 151, and that the abut-merits 113a, 1136, etc. of the gauge supportim the contacts ilo, 42a, 41b, 421), etc. are maintained in the path of the edge of the glass sheet 2 by a spring 152a, 152b, etc. which is adjustably attached on the one hand at 153m, 153b, etc. to an arm; 1540, 154b, etc. fixed to the rod 9. The operation of this gauge is essentially the same as that described in the foregoing with reference to the gauge according to FIGURES l to 11.

It will readily be appreciated that many constructional modifications may be made to the gauge according to the present invention without departing therefrom. Thus, for exampie, the rod 76 supporting the countenabutments 129 and its control means, such as 32, 83, 84, 86, 87, 89 or the like, as also the column 79 with its means 80, for the axial retention of the nut 84 and the means 73, $3 for the angular retention of the screw 82, instead of being disposed outside the base 4, may be combined with the latter so that the counter-abutments 129 are in close proximity to the pavwls 126, 128 of the gauge. In this case, the fixed column 79 may serve as a guide path for any movable system (gauge and cutting device), while serving at the same time as a support for the fixed bearing of the shaft 123 of the device for the suspension and balancing of the movable system, which would permit also of omitting the guide rails Hi9 and the supports 10?.

It is obvious, on the other hand, that the rod 76 supporting the counter-abutments 129, instead of being automatically controlled in dependence upon the control of the screw 8 and of the movable support 7 of the gauge as hereinbefore described, could be separately controlled, for example simply by hand. In general, it is to be noted that FIGURE 11, as also the other figures, gives an illustration which is explanatory rather than constructional and that the construction of the subject of the in vention may be varied in many respects Without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting a sheet of glass issuing from a drawing machine, comprising glass cutting means for cutting such drawn sheet of glass along a given line spaced in back of the advancing end of such sheet, gauge means for measuring the distance at which the glass has advanced beyond said cutting means, and means connected to and controlling the operation of said glass cutting means, said gauge means including a gauge abutment spaced a given distance from the field of operation of said glass cutting means and extending across the path of feed of the advancing end of the glass sheet, a gauge rod extending in substantial parallelism with the direction of feed of the advancing end of the glass sheet, and means supporting said abutment on said gauge rod for movement relative to the latter to enable said abutment to be displaced by the advancing end of the glass sheet without change of its supported position on said gauge rod, said control means being mounted on said movable abutment and operable when the advancing end of the glass sheet engages said abutment to initiate the cutting action of said cutting means, and means for establishing said gauge abutment at the given distance thereof from the field of operation of said cutting means and including a movable support for said gauge rod, a threaded rod mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and extending in parallelism with said gauge rod, said movable support being threadedly connected to said threaded rod so that upon rotational movement of die latter said support is moved longitudinally thereof and said gauge rod is moved lengthwise by said support, an elongated guide device fixed in relation to said threaded rod and extending longitudinally in parallelism with said rod, means slidably connecting said support to said guide device and coaoting with the latter to prevent rotation of said support in its move ments along said threaded rod, means for rotating said threaded rod to move said support and consequently said gauge rod without rotation parallel to the direction of feed of the glass beyond said cutting means to bring said gauge abutment to a position indicative of the given length of the glass to be cut by said cutting means, and index means connected with said threaded rod, said support and said guide device for indicating the distance of such position of said gauge abutment from the field of operation of said glass cutting means.

2. Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of gauge abutments mounted in given spaced relation on said gauge rod to indicate different given distances from said cutting means, and control means for said glass cutting means mounted on each of said gauge abutments, and means operative to select the control means for initiating the cutting action of said cutting means on that gauge abutment the distance of which from said cutting means corresponds to the length or" the glass to be cut from the advancing sheet thereof.

3. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 2, in which said control means comprises switch means constructed to operate when its associated abutment is displaced by the advancing end of the glass sheet and to automatically return to normal condition during the return movement of such abutment after the cut glass has been removed, a control circuit for said cutting means and including said switch means of all of said abutments, and in which said operative means comprises a selector switch included in said circuit and electrically connected to each of said switch means.

4. Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means for rotating said threaded rod includes a variable speed, reversible driving means operatively connected to said threaded rod, and means remote from said threaded rod for selectively controlling the operation of said driving means.

5. Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 4, in which said driving means is operative to rotate said threaded rod relatively rapidly for fast adjustment of said support and consequently of said gauge abutment and is operative to rotate said threaded rod relatively slowly for fine adjustment of said support and abutment, and in which said index means comprises a scale fixed with relation to said guide device and a cooperating pointer mounted on said support for indicating large adjustments of said abutment, and comprises a scale mounted on said threaded rod and a pointer fixed with relation to said guide device for indicating fine adjustmerits of said abutment,

6. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 1, in which said abutment is constructed and arranged to yieldingly resist displacement thereof by the advancing end of the glass sheet, and in which said control means includes motor means for operating said cutting means, an electric circuit including said motor means, and switch means included in said circuit and carried by said abutment, said switch means being operative upon engagement or" said abutment by said glass sheet to close said motor means circuit.

7. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 1, in which said abutment is pivotally mounted on said adjustable supporting means therefor, and in which said control means includes a control circuit for said cutting means and switch means mounted on said abutment and included in said circuit, said switch means being operable to actuate said cutting means when said abutment is engaged by the advancing end of the glass sheet and automatically returning to normal condition during the return movement of the displaced abutment after the cut glass has been removed.

8. Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said abutment includes means enabling said abutment to oppose displacement thereof by the advancing end of the glass sheet with a controlled given resistance.

9. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 8, in which said resisting means is constructed and arranged relative to said abutment that it assists in the return of said abutment from its displaced position to its normal position.

10. Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said control means includes a control circuit for said cutting means, and switch means mounted on said abutment and included in said circuit, bumper means carried by said abutment and disposed between said switch means and the advancing end of the glass sheet, said bumper means being operable by such advancing end of the glass sheet to actuate said switch. means before displacement of the body of said abutment by such glass sheet.

11. Glass cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means for adjustably supporting said abutment on said gauge rod comprises a supporting member connected to said gauge rod, a threaded rod threadedly engaging said supporting member and carrying said abutment, and an elongated control member opcratively connected to said threaded rod to enable adjustment of said l. 1 rod relative to said supporting member from a place remote to said abutment.

12. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 1, in which said abutment is pivotally mounted on said adjustable supporting means therefor so that a portion of said abutment extends from the pivotal axis thereof into the path of the advancing end of the glass sheet, and said abutment includes means to control the angle at which such portion thereof is disposed to the plane of such glass sheet.

13. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 1, in which said glass cutting means comprises a fixed guide rail located below said abutment and between the glass sheet issuing from the drawing machine and said gauge means, said guide rail being disposed in parallelism with the glass sheet and inclined to the direction of draw of such glass sheet, and means supporting said guide rail and operable to change the inclination of said rail to conform to the drawing speed of the glass sheet.

14. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 1, including a counterbalanced rigid frame and means for guiding said frame for vertical movement between upper and lower positions, said glass cutting means and said gauge means being secured to said frame and movable therewith, and including means operable to hold said abutment against retracting movement thereof for a given period after engagement thereof by the advancing end of the glass sheet so that the latter through such abutment moves said frame, together with said cutting and gauge means upwardly concurrently with the sheet during such given period, and including means operable to release said abutment from said holding means whereby said abutment is enabled to retract from its normal position at the end of said given period.

15. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 14, in which said holding means is mounted on said gauge rod and comprises latching means operable to releasably hold said abutment in normal position for said given period and stop means for controlling said latching means, and in which said releasing means comprises a fixed abutment located at a given position in the path of movement of said stop means so as to be engageable by the latter at the end of said given period.

16. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 15, including a third rod extending in substantial parallelism to said gauge and threaded rods and supporting said fixed abutment, and means operative to adjust the position of said third rod lengthwise thereof to adjust the position of said fixed abutment.

17. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 1'6. in which said third rod adjusting means comprises means operatively connecting said third rod in driven relation to the means for rotating said threaded rod to cause simultaneous adjustment of said movable gauge abutment and said fixed abutment.

18. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 17, including a fourth rod fixed with relation to and extending in substantial parallelism to said third rod, and means slidably connecting said third and fourth rods, whereby the latter functions as a guide for said counterbalanced rigid frame and the several means secured thereto.

19. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 1, including means operable to hold said abutment against retracting movement thereof when engaged by the advancing end of the glass sheet and means to control the holding action of said holding means on said abutment, and in which said control means on said abutment is operatively connected to said hold control means and operable when the advancing end of the glass sheet engages such abutment to cause said hold control means to move said holding means into holding relation with said abutment.

20. Glass cutting apparatus such as defined in claim 19, in which said holding means comprises a latching device, in. which said hold control means comprises a solenoid connected to and controlling said latching device, and in which said abutment control means comprises switch means electrically connected with said solenoid.

21. Apparatus for cutting a sheet of glass issuing from a drawing machine com rising glass cutting means for cutting such drawn sheet of glass along a given line spaced in back of the advancing end of such sheet, and means for controllin the operation of said cutting means, said control means including a gauge abutment extending across the path of feed of the advancing end of the glass sheet, a gauge rod extending in substantial parallelism with the direction of feed of the advancing end of the glass sheet, means for supporting said abutment on said rod at a given distance from a zero position on said rod and representing a given length of glass that would be cut by said cutting means if such zero position were located at the field of operation of said cutting means, and said supporting means supporting said abut ment for movement relative to said rod to enable said abutment to be displaced temporarily by the advancing end of the glass sheet without change of its given supported position on said gauge rod, means movably supporting said gauge rod and abutment and movable therewith as a unit assembly to shift said gauge rod longitudinally to establish said abutment at a distance from the field of operation of said glass cutting means representing the actual length of the glass to be cut without varying the position of said abutment on said gauge rod establishing said given distance, means for moving said unit assembly as a whole through a measured distance to establish the abutment at the actual desired distance thereof from the field of operation of the cutting means, index means for indicating the actual distance of said abutment from said cutting means, and means carried by said abutment and connected to and controlling said cutting means and operable when the advancing end of the glass sheet engages said abutment to initiate the cutting action of said cutting means.

22. Apparatus for cutting a sheet of glass issuing from a drawing machine comprising glass cutting means for cutting such drawn sheet of glass along a given line spaced in back of the advancing end of such sheet, and means for controlling the operation of said cutting means, said control means including a plurality of spaced gauge abutments arranged in aligned relation and each extending across the path of feed of the advancing end of the glass sheet, a gauge rod extending in substantial paral lelism with the direction of feed of the advancing end of the glass sheet, means for supporting said abutments on said rod at multiples of a given distance from a zero position on said rod and representing given lengths of glass that would be cut by said cutting means if such zero position were located at the field of operation of said cutting means, and said supporting means supporting each of said abutments for movement relative to said rod to enable said abutment to be displaced temporarily by the advancing end of the glass sheet without change of its given supported position on said gauge rod, means movably supporting said gauge rod and abutments and movable therewith as a unit assembly to shift said gauge rod longitudinally to establish that one of said abutments which is closest to the actual length of the glass to be cut, at a distance from the field of operation of said glass cutting means representing the actual length of the glass to be cut Without varying the established positions of said abutments on said gauge rod, means for moving said unit assembly as a whole through a measured distance to establish said one abutment at the actual desired distance thereof from the field of operation of the cutting means, index means for indicating the actual distance of said abutment from said cutting means, means carried by each of said abutments and connected to and controlling said cutting means and operable when the advancing end of the glass sheet engages such abutment to initiate the cutting action of said cutting means, and selective means located between said control means and said cutting means and operable to select the control means of said one abutment to control said cutting means and rendering the control means of the remainder of said abutments inoperative to control said cutting means.

23. The method of cutting given lengths of glass from a sheet thereof issuing from a drawing machine comprising establishing on a gauge rod and across the path of feed of the advancing end of the glass sheet at a place remote from the glass cutting means, an abutment capable of being displaced by such sheet end and fixing the position thereof on the gauge rod at a predetermined distance from a given zero position representing a given length of glass that would be cut by the glass cutting means if such zero position were located at the field of operation of the cutting means, then shifting the gauge rod to establish the abutment at a distance from the field of operation of the glass cutting means representing the actual length of the glass to be cut without varying the abutments established position on the gauge rod and conducting such shifting of the gauge rod with the aid of measured indexing means, so that such actual distance from the cutting means is precisely arrived at, and then utilizing the abutment to automatically control the operation of the cutting means as the advancing end of the glass sheet comes into engagement therewith without halting the advancing movement of the sheet of glass.

24. A method of determining the length of a section to be separated from the leading end of a continuous ribbon of glass as it issues from a drawing apparatus, which method comprises positioning two or more stops during the same time at predetermined intervals across the path of the leading end of the ribbon and arranging that the predetermined intervals of the stops are held fast during a period of the feed of the glass but that each stop at its predetermined position is movable out of said path by the leading end of the ribbon and is adapted on such engagement by the leading end of the ribbon to initiate a cut starting signal for effecting operation of a cutting device by which the ribbon is scored automatically along a line about which the leading section is separated from the ribbon, effecting simultaneous movement of all of the stops in parallellism with the direction of feed of the glass to positions at which one of the stops is spaced from the cutting device by a distance equal to that of the desired length of the next section to be separated from the ribbon, and causing said one stop only to be capable of initiating a cut starting signal when engaged by the leading end of the ribbon, whereby any stop intermediate said one stop and the cutting device will be moved out of the path of the sheet by the advancing end thereof without effecting operation of the cutting device.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the initial portion of the simultaneous movement of the stops is effected at a high speed to a position at which the distance between said one stop and the cutting device approximates to said desired length and then such movement is continued in the same direction at a slower velocity until the distance equals said desired length.

26. Apparatus for determining the length of a section to be separated from the leading end of a continuous rib bon of glass issuing from a drawing apparatus, comprising a cutting device by which the ribbon is automatically scored along a line about which the leading section is separated from the ribbon, at least two stops each including signal-initiating means adapted on engagement of the stop by the leading end of the glass ribbon to initiate a cutstarting signal for eifecting operation of said cutting device, support means to support all of said stops during the same time across the path of the ribbon in a manner such as to permit the stops to be retained in predetermined spaced relation considered in the direction of movement of the ribbon for a period of the feed of the glass, to be oneness movable out of said path by the leading end of the ribbon, and to be movable simultaneously towards or away from the cutting device, stop adjustin means operable to effect said simultaneous movement of the stops to positions at which one of the steps is spaced from the cutting device by a distance equal to that of the desired length at the next section to be separated from the ribbon, and selector means operable to condition only the signal-initiating means of said one stop to be efiective to transmit a cutstarting signal on engagement of said one stop by the leading end of the ribbon, whereby any stop intermediate said one stop and the cutting device will be moved out of the path of the sheet by the advancing end thereof without effecting operation of the cutting device.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said support means includes a guide extending lengthwise of the path of the ribbon, a movable stop support extending lengthwise of the path of the ribbon and to which the stops are secured in spaced relation lengthwise thereof, said stop support being guided by said guide for movement lengthwise thereof under control of said adjusting means and independently of the ribbon.

28. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said adjusting means is selectively operable to eflect the initial portion of the simultaneous movement of the stops at a high velocity to positions at which the distance between said one stop and the cutting device approximates to said desired section length and to permit continued operation at a slower velocity to continue the movement of the stops in the same direction to positions at which the distance between said one stop and the cutting device equal the desired section length.

29. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said adjusting means includes a rotatable setting screw, driving means to effect rotation of the setting screw, and a setting nut which is threaded on the setting screw, is constrained by said guide against rotation about the setting screw, and is engaged by the stop support to control movement of the stop support lengthwise of said guide.

30. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said stop support means includes pivot means enabling each stop to be rockable independently into and out of the path of the ribbon without disturbing the spaced relation of said stops on said support means.

31. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said signal-initiating means carried by each stop comprises a pair of normaily open electric switches and a switch actuator common to both switches, and an electric circuit including said switches and an electric motor arranged to effect operation of said cutting device, said switch actuator being arranged on the stop to actuate said switches when engaged by the leading end of the ribbon.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said switch actuator is supported by the stop so as to be located between the stop and the leading end of the ribbon when the stop is located in the path of the leading end of the ribbon and to be movable by the leading end of the ribbon relative to the stop to effect closing of the switches before the ribbon is effective through said switch actuator to rock the stop about the pivot therefor.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said switch actuator is provided with a butter engageable by the leading end of the ribbon and enabling the ribbon to actuate the switches and rock the stop without damage to the glass thereof.

34. Apparatus according to claim 26, including means secured to said support means for applying a positive force on each stop tending to hold the same normally in advanced position across the path of the ribbon, said force applying means being yieldable under the force applied by the leading end of the ribbon to said stop to permit the stop to be moved out of the path of the ribbon.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said force applying means includes a stationary permanent magnet mounted on said support means to exercise on a portion of its associated stop a holding magnetic force which must be overcome by the ribbon before the step can be turned thereby out of the path of the ribbon.

36. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said support means includes a support, a stop carrying bracket for each stop secured to said support, a screw provided on and rotatable relative to the stop-carrying bracket, a plate carried by said screw and pivotally supporting said stop, and a manipulating rod connected to said screw and operable to rotate the latter to cause the position of the stop to be adjusted relative to the cutting device.

37. Apparatus according to claim 26 and in which said cutting device is constructed and arranged to advance with the ribbon during a cutting operation, wherein said support means includes a support to which the stops are secured and a guide for said stop support and in which the guide and stop support are movable with the cutting device, each stop being adapted to be latched in the path of the leading end of the ribbon, and in which said se-.

lector means is adapted also to determine the latch which is to be etfective to latch a stop in the path of the leading end of the ribbon.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, including a normally open switch carried by each stop and adapted on engagement of the leading end of the ribbon with the stop to transmit a signal to control latching of the stop.

39. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein each stop has a catch pivotally mounted on the stop support, the catch being rockable to the latching position thereof by a solenoid operable by closing of said stop switch.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein a counter stop is provided for each catch, the counter stops being secured to a counter stop support at spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of said stops and adapted at the end of a cutting operation to effect release of the catch appropriate thereto, said counter stop support being movable with the stop support to maintain the predetermined correspondence between the spacing of the stops and the counter stops.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said adjusting means includes a rotatable setting screw and wherein said counter stop support is coupled with said setting screw through a pair of bevel gears movable with the cutting device, and is adapted to import simultaneous and like lengthwise movement to the stop and counter stop supports.

42. Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said bevel gear which cooperates with said counter stop support is adapted for sliding movement relative to an internally screw-threaded bush rotatable thereby and constrained against axial movement, and said counter stop support is provided with a threaded portion which cooperates with the internal threads of the bush but is constrained against rotation about its axis.

43. Apparatus for determining the length of a section to be separated from the leading end of a continuous ribbon of glass issuing from a drawing apparatus, comprising a cutting device by which the ribbon is automatically scored along a line about which the leading section is separated from the ribbon at least two stops successively aligned in spaced relation in the path of feed of the ribbon and each including signal-initiating means adapted on engagement of the stop by the leading end of the glass ribbon to initiate a cut-startin signal for efiecting operation of said cutting device, a guide extending lengthwise of the path of the ribbon, a stop support guided by said guide and to which said Stops are secured in predetermined spaced relation considered in the direction of movement of the ribbon, stop adjusting means operable to effect simultaneous movement of the stops to positions at which one of the stops is spaced from the cutting device by a distance equal to that of the desired length of the next section to be separated from the ribbon, said means including a rotatable setting screw, driving means to effect rotation of the setting screw, and a setting nut which is threaded on the setting screw, is constrained by the guide against rotation about the setting screw, and is engaged by the stop support to control movement of the support lengthwise of the guide, and selector means operable to condition only the signal-initiating means of said one stop to be effective to transmit a cut-starting signal on engagement of said one stop by the leading end of the ribbon, whereby any stop intermediate said one stop and the cutting device will not be rendered operative by such ribbon end to effect operation of the cutting device.

44. Apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the stop which is first engageable by the leading end of the ribbon is spaced from the setting not by a predetermined distance, the setting out carries an index cooperating with a fixed coarse-adjustment scale, and the setting screw has a fine-adjustment scale rotatable therewith and cooperating with a fixed index.

45. Apparatus for determining the length of a section to be separated from the leading end of a continuous ribbon of glass issuing from a drawing apparatus, comprising at least two stops successively aligned in spaced relation in the path of feed of the ribbon and each including signal-initiating means adapted on engagement of the stop by the leading end of the glass ribbon to initiate a cut-starting signal for effecting operation of a cutting device by which the ribbon is automatically scored along a line about which the leading section is separated from the ribbon, a guide extending lengthwise of the path of the ribbon, a stop support guided by said guide and to which said stops are secured in predetermined spaced relation considered in the direction of movement of the ribbon, stop adjusting means operable to shift said stop support and the stops thereon as a unit to e'ilect simultaneous movement of the stops to positions at which one of the stops is spaced from the cutting device by a distance equal to that of the desired length of the next section to be separated from the ribbon, said means being selectively operable to effect the initial portion of the simultaneous movement of such unit at a high velocity to a position at which the distance between said one stop and the cutting device approximates to said desired section length and to permit continued operation movement of such unit in the same direction at a slower velocity to a position thereof at which the distance between said one stop and the cutting device equals that of the desired section length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,973,723 Owen Sept. 18, 1934 2,369,617 Somerville Feb. 13, 1945 2,535,900 Carman Dec. 26, 1950 

